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Republican Scranton mayor candidate Jim Mulligan raised more money than Democratic Mayor Bill Courtright since June, but the mayor still spent almost three times as much as the challenger, according to their latest campaign finance reports.

The mayor had $189,178 when the reporting period began June 6, money raised over the last four years. He raised another $75,562, spent $245,315 and had $19,425 left when the reporting period ended Oct. 23.

Mulligan started the same period with $12,509, raised $94,307, spent $88,119 and had $18,697 left.

“I am humbled by the tremendous outpouring of support we have received from all corners of Scranton,” Mulligan said in a statement.

Courtright downplayed the fundraising difference in the latest period.

“We didn’t push really hard to raise money because we had it already,” he said.

Courtright and Mulligan used a lot of their money to buy television commercials and other advertising to trade charges of wrongdoing.

Mulligan accused Courtright of violating the city code in hiring a lawyer and top campaign contributor, Edwin “Ned” Abrahamsen, to advise him in the Scranton Sewer Authority sale. Courtright chastised Mulligan for failing to pay debts and accepting health care benefits as the sewer authority’s solicitor in violation of a state law that forbids benefits for solicitors.

Both men deny breaking the law.

Courtright’s money

Courtright had 24 contributions of $1,000 or more. The biggest came from James A. Valvano, president of TSE Realty Co., Dunmore, who gave $10,000.

Abrahamsen, who gave $41,750 over the last four years, gave another $400.

Mulligan’s money

Mulligan had 19 contributions of $1,000 or more. His largest came from the Great American Pennsylvania Fund, a Johnstown-based political action committee, which gave $10,000. Rob Gleason, the former state Republican Party chairman, is chairman of the fund whose biggest contributor is Josephine Templeton, the widow of famed financier and philanthropist John Templeton.

The PAC is spending freely to help local Republican parties and candidates across the state this year.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported James A. Valvano's paving company won city paving contracts. It did not.

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